Recent Finds of Javelinheads of Saka Period from Kyrgyzstan Cover Image

Новые находки наконечников дротиков сакского времени из Кыргызстана
Recent Finds of Javelinheads of Saka Period from Kyrgyzstan

Author(s): Sergey S. Ivanov
Subject(s): History, Archaeology, Ancient World
Published by: Издательский дом Stratum, Университет «Высшая антропологическая школа»
Keywords: Central Asia; Tian-Shan region; ancient nomads; Saka (Scythian) period; warfare; javelins

Summary/Abstract: The article explores use of javelins by ancient nomads in Tien-Shan region. A small set of bronze javelinheads was collected, related to 7th—5th cc. BC. The javelinheads have leafshaped form and length of 20 cm on average. In this region they continued the line of development preserved here from the Bronze Age. Preservation of such tradition among the ancient nomads might have been influenced by their intense contacts with Achaemenid Iran, where javelins were widely used by light cavalry. But, in general, use of javelins was untypical for ancient nomads of Central Asia in Saka (Scythian) period.

  • Issue Year: 2014
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 283-289
  • Page Count: 7
  • Language: Russian